Tonight we discussed evangelism and discipleship. The suggested way to do evangelism was called disciple-making evangelism. It is rooted in the Grand Narrative, is based on loving your neighbor, flows from the church, and more. The one thing that stuck out to me was that it doesn't play the numbers game.
Let me describe a scenario and we'll see if you recognize it. It's Wednesday afternoon and you are going to go to youth group at your church later on tonight. You're in class and all of the sudden you remember that it's bring a friend night! The person who brings the most people gets a _________ (pizza party, prize from the bucket of surprises, free ticket to heaven, etc). You quickly find all of your friends and invite them to the hip service at your church.
Sound familiar? Yeah, my church has done it too. What is that portraying to the youth? That the church who has the most people is the holiest? Or does it even boil down to the idea that he who has the most is the best? I understand why youth leaders do this. Yes, the youth need God. But perhaps relationships are the answer...not the sheer size of the group.
That's what this disciple-making thing is about: building relationships. As Joel always says, he who spends the most time, wins. Jesus built relationships with people in order to "win them over". He didn't buy them. These days all that kids want is someone, anyone to care. With 50% of all marriages ending in divorce and a plethora of absentee fathers/mothers, kids feel worthless left and right. How do you show them God's love?? You love them. Spend time with them.
1 comments:
What this conveys to students is that they are responsible for both the Great Commission... and the youth worker's job.
Whoa... "Samsonite."
(That's what I'm supposed to say whenever some of my personal baggage spills out) ;)
Post a Comment